Exploring the City of Quebec

Exploring the City of Quebec

Quebec is the capital of the Province of Quebec and is the second most populous city of the province. Being the capital city, lots of visitors visit here for various purposes, including vacations, business trips, and others. It is one of the oldest cities located in North America, with the Old Quebec section of the city being the only remaining fortified city walls that still exist in the Americas north of Mexico. Thus, this district, called the “'Historic District of Old Québec” has been declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in as early as 1985.

The Rich History of Quebec

Being such an old city, Quebec offers a rich history and culture. The city traces its history much earlier than the 1500s but it was in 1535 that a fort was built here by French explorer Jacques Cartier. Still, it was not until 1541 that he built a permanent settlement in the area but it was soon abandoned due to the hostility of the native population and harsh winter living conditions. It took several decades before the place was once again settled, being founded in 1608 by French explorer Samuel de Champlain. The city was ruled by several conquerors over the years.

A Rich Culture

Today, Quebec is home to various festivals, including Summer Festival and the Winter Carnival. The Winter Carnival is one of the most notable festivals of the city, drawing tens of thousands of tourists every year. Ice castles and various winter attractions are featured here. There are also a lot of significant landmarks and historic attractions in the city, with much of the most notable landmarks located east of the fortification walls in Vieux-Québec (Old Quebec) and Place Royale. Various landmarks include the Notre Dame des Victoires Church, Porte St-Louis and Porte St-Jean which are main gates, Kent Gate, and even the Château Frontenac Hotel which dominates the city’s skyline.

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Guest Contributions

Oct 2, 2011 by jenna taylor

historic quebec One of the first impressions that I got during my visit to Quebec was that it was rather historic. It was nice visiting Quebec because I have friends there who have told me time and time again that its awesome. And it indeed, it was. The most historic part of Quebec, I believe is the Vieux Quebec which was founded a long long time ago. Apparently the upper part of this area is called Haute-ville or Upper Town, which is walled… it makes Quebec known for being the only walled city that is still remaining. One of my favorite places in Quebec is the Siberia Station Spa, which offers all travelers and locals a chance to relax during their visit. Now tell me, who can resist? Guest submitted photos